Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 30-year-old woman, Clairissa Ann Smith, found herself in police custody last night after she allegedly threatened her neighbor’s life and threatened to set his house ablaze following a dispute over a fence-jumping dog.
According to a Gainesville Police Department officer, the incident occurred around 8 p.m. when Smith became agitated after her neighbor requested that her husband prevent their dog from leaping over the fence. This request escalated into a heated exchange between the neighbor and Smith’s husband.
Smith is accused of sending a threatening text message to the neighbor that read, “Keep on I will burn your f***ing house down and cut your f***ing throat !!!!”
When questioned by the officer, Smith initially claimed she had been asleep and did not have her phone. However, she later admitted to having her phone throughout the day but denied knowing its whereabouts. She did acknowledge that the threatening message originated from her phone number.
Smith faces charges of sending a written threat to kill. Despite having no prior criminal record, Judge Joy Danne has ordered her release on her own recognizance, with the condition that she refrains from possessing any weapons.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
